MATERNAL LOVE But it's just the same thing: I am down below, we are all down below.... You have come up here only to realise and to learn, once and for all, how to see me when you see me down below.... Do you understand, Tyltyl dear?... You believe yourself in Heaven; but Heaven is wherever you and I kiss each other.... There are not two mothers; and you have no other.... Every child has only one; and it is always the same one and always the most beautiful; but you have to know her and to know how to look.... But how did you manage to come up here and to find a road for which men have been seeking ever since they began to dwell upon the Earth?... TYLTYL (_pointing to_ LIGHT, _who, discreetly, has drawn a little to one side_) She brought me.... MATERNAL LOVE Who is she?... TYLTYL Light.... MATERNAL LOVE I have never seen her.... I was told that she was very fond of you both and very kind.... But why does she hide herself?... Does she never show her face?... TYLTYL Oh, yes, but she is afraid that the Joys might be frightened if they saw too clearly.... MATERNAL LOVE But doesn't she know that we are waiting only for her! (_Calling the other_ GREAT JOYS) Come, come, sisters! Come quickly, all of you! Light has come to visit us at last!... (_A stir among the_ GREAT JOYS, _who draw nearer, with cries of "Light is here!... Light! Light!_...") THE JOY OF UNDERSTANDING (_thrusting all the others aside, to come and embrace_ LIGHT) You are Light and we did not know it!... And we have been waiting for you for years and years and years!... Do you recognise me?... I am the Joy of Understanding, who have been seeking you for so long!... We are very happy, but we cannot see beyond ourselves.... THE JOY OF BEING JUST (_embracing_ LIGHT _in her turn_) Do you recognise me?... I am the Joy of Being Just, who have besought you so long.... We are very happy, but we cannot see beyond our shadows. THE JOY OF SEEING WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL (_also embracing_ LIGHT) Do you recognise me?... I am the Joy of Seeing what is Beautiful, who have loved you so dearly.... We are very happy, but we cannot see beyond our dreams.... THE JOY OF UNDERSTANDING Come, sister, come, do not keep us waiting any longer.... We are strong enough, we are pure enough.... Put aside those veils which still conceal from us the last truths and the last happinesses.... See, all my sisters are kneeling at your feet.... You are our queen and our reward. LIGHT (_drawing her veils closer_) Sisters, my beautiful sisters, I am obeying my Master.... The hour is not yet come; it will strike, perhaps, and I shall return without fear and without shadow.... Farewell, rise and let us kiss once more, like sisters lost and found, while waiting for the day that will soon appear.... MATERNAL LOVE (_embracing_ LIGHT) You have been very good to my poor little ones.... LIGHT I shall always be good to those who love one another....